IAIN HENDERSON ISN’T the ideal candidate for interview. Not today, at least not for the radio reporters.
The powerful Ulster man seemed unusually quiet entering the dull confines of the Carton House library, but all became clear as he issued an early apology for the shovel of gravel that accompanies his first answer.
“I lost my voice this morning somewhere, apart from that I’m feeling grand.”
Bellowing line-out calls will have to wait. Though with the number of battered bodies around the Ireland camp, Henderson will surely have high doses of honey and lemon to make sure he stays in the frame for a starting berth against the Wallabies.
Barring injury or fatigue, there is no reason for Joe Schmidt to make a change in his second row. Devin Toner is a totemic 80-minute figure that the Kiwi will be loathe to take out of the mix, while Donnacha Ryan has been a hard angry edge that every team loves to have working around the ruck.
Working in close proximity to the Tipperary man, Henderson can see even more quality than that.
“Donnacha’s almost taken on a Paulie-like role in some aspects,” says Henderson.
He’s always doing his homework, he’s on top of everyone and he knows the opposition to a tee. He makes sure our defensive line-out is running perfectly. He’s always making sure he’s putting in the extra bit of effort, not only on the field, but off it too.
“He’s a great lad on top of that, always good for a chat and keeps everybody in good spirits. He’s definitely a good man to have on the field and a good man to be playing with against tough opposition — I know that from playing against him.”
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As a position, the second row tends to offer a touch more longevity than most areas of a rugby field. Turning 33 next month, Ryan still has plenty of time at the peak of his powers. That goes double for Toner, who just turned 30 after the South Africa tour.
Still, a little competition can only be a good thing, especially when it comes in the form of the powerful, young, hungry Henderson and Ultan Dillane.
Both the Ulster and Connacht star face a similar task, convincing the Ireland coach they are capable of more than just an impact role as a replacement.
Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
“Just have to keep on plugging away on and off the field, doing homework,” Henderson says with the rasp still in his voice.
“And when you get the opportunity, either off the bench or from the start, you try to take it and put your best foot forward. Ultan’s playing really well for Connacht, so he’s got his just rewards.
“Players play well, they get to play for Joe.”
When we spoke with Henderson he was convincing in his assessment that the lock positions for the weekend are “a toss-up” between himself, Dillane, Toner, Ryan and Billy Holland.
He has fully recovered from the AC tear that kept him from travelling for the win over New Zealand in Chicago at the start of the month and would have marked himself fit for a run-out against Canada, but missed a session early in the week as his shoulder recovery was completed.
“The Canada week I completed almost all the training and the following week I was in for all of it, so I was trying to make a slight impact off the bench. Fingers crossed Joe might look to pick me this weekend, but you know what he’s like, it’s all kept very close to the chest.”
He was among the replacements in Saturday night’s defeat to New Zealand and, along with the likes of Peter O’Mahony, he is among a growing number of Irish players who have proven themselves worthy of starting the biggest Tests but are still bursting a gut to get back in.
It’s times like these, when the squad has been battered and depleted, that depth and competition for places really comes in handy.
“There’s a few guys who’d want to put their hand up and if they get an opportunity they’d be chomping at the bit,” said forwards coach Simon Easterby, responding to a query specifically about O’Mahony but expanding his answer to include many more men on the fringe of the starting XV.
“Another guy that when he’s on form, there’s not many better. We’re fortunate we’ve got a couple of those more experienced players coming back, but credit to the guys who have played over the last few weeks in the two tests against New Zealand, putting huge pressure on selection. That’s what you want in all positions.”
Always nice to have the option of a turbo boost in the engine room.
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'Donnacha Ryan's taken on a Paulie-like role': Henderson heaping pressure on seasoned locks
IAIN HENDERSON ISN’T the ideal candidate for interview. Not today, at least not for the radio reporters.
The powerful Ulster man seemed unusually quiet entering the dull confines of the Carton House library, but all became clear as he issued an early apology for the shovel of gravel that accompanies his first answer.
“I lost my voice this morning somewhere, apart from that I’m feeling grand.”
Bellowing line-out calls will have to wait. Though with the number of battered bodies around the Ireland camp, Henderson will surely have high doses of honey and lemon to make sure he stays in the frame for a starting berth against the Wallabies.
Barring injury or fatigue, there is no reason for Joe Schmidt to make a change in his second row. Devin Toner is a totemic 80-minute figure that the Kiwi will be loathe to take out of the mix, while Donnacha Ryan has been a hard angry edge that every team loves to have working around the ruck.
Working in close proximity to the Tipperary man, Henderson can see even more quality than that.
“Donnacha’s almost taken on a Paulie-like role in some aspects,” says Henderson.
“He’s a great lad on top of that, always good for a chat and keeps everybody in good spirits. He’s definitely a good man to have on the field and a good man to be playing with against tough opposition — I know that from playing against him.”
As a position, the second row tends to offer a touch more longevity than most areas of a rugby field. Turning 33 next month, Ryan still has plenty of time at the peak of his powers. That goes double for Toner, who just turned 30 after the South Africa tour.
Still, a little competition can only be a good thing, especially when it comes in the form of the powerful, young, hungry Henderson and Ultan Dillane.
Both the Ulster and Connacht star face a similar task, convincing the Ireland coach they are capable of more than just an impact role as a replacement.
“Just have to keep on plugging away on and off the field, doing homework,” Henderson says with the rasp still in his voice.
“And when you get the opportunity, either off the bench or from the start, you try to take it and put your best foot forward. Ultan’s playing really well for Connacht, so he’s got his just rewards.
“Players play well, they get to play for Joe.”
When we spoke with Henderson he was convincing in his assessment that the lock positions for the weekend are “a toss-up” between himself, Dillane, Toner, Ryan and Billy Holland.
He has fully recovered from the AC tear that kept him from travelling for the win over New Zealand in Chicago at the start of the month and would have marked himself fit for a run-out against Canada, but missed a session early in the week as his shoulder recovery was completed.
“The Canada week I completed almost all the training and the following week I was in for all of it, so I was trying to make a slight impact off the bench. Fingers crossed Joe might look to pick me this weekend, but you know what he’s like, it’s all kept very close to the chest.”
He was among the replacements in Saturday night’s defeat to New Zealand and, along with the likes of Peter O’Mahony, he is among a growing number of Irish players who have proven themselves worthy of starting the biggest Tests but are still bursting a gut to get back in.
It’s times like these, when the squad has been battered and depleted, that depth and competition for places really comes in handy.
“There’s a few guys who’d want to put their hand up and if they get an opportunity they’d be chomping at the bit,” said forwards coach Simon Easterby, responding to a query specifically about O’Mahony but expanding his answer to include many more men on the fringe of the starting XV.
“Another guy that when he’s on form, there’s not many better. We’re fortunate we’ve got a couple of those more experienced players coming back, but credit to the guys who have played over the last few weeks in the two tests against New Zealand, putting huge pressure on selection. That’s what you want in all positions.”
Always nice to have the option of a turbo boost in the engine room.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
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